Italian tennis star Fabio Fognini has officially retired from professional tennis following a dramatic five-set battle against Carlos Alcaraz in the opening round of Wimbledon 2025.
The 38-year-old former world No. 9 lost 7-5, 6-7(5), 7-5, 2-6, 6-1 after more than four and a half hours on Centre Court. While he had initially planned to retire later in the season, Fognini revealed during the post-match press conference that the emotional high of this match made it the perfect moment to bid farewell.
Fognini&rsquo;s career highlights include nine ATP singles titles, with his most notable win at the 2019 Monte Carlo Masters, where he defeated Rafael Nadal en route. That same year, he became the first Italian man since 1979 to break into the ATP Top 10.
Despite never reaching a Grand Slam semifinal, he made his deepest run at the 2011 French Open, reaching the quarterfinals before withdrawing due to injury.
Known for his flamboyant play and fiery temperament, Fognini was often in the spotlight for both brilliance and controversy, including a record fine in 2014 and a probation in 2017 for on-court behaviour.
Currently ranked 138th, Fognini ended his journey by requesting Alcaraz&rsquo;s shirt as a keepsake &mdash; a gift for his child with his wife and former US Open champion Flavia Pennetta.
Fognini retires after 63 Grand Slam appearances, leaving behind a legacy of passion, artistry, and undeniable impact on Italian tennis.
[Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by the Benefit News editorial team and is published directly from the IANS news feed.]

Fabio Fognini Retires After Wimbledon Battle

Italian star ends career after 5-set thriller vs Alcaraz at Wimbledon 2025

Fabio Fognini Retires After Wimbledon Battle

Italian star ends career after 5-set thriller vs Alcaraz at Wimbledon 2025

July 9, 2025 | 19:19 IST